Thread-advancing reel



Feb. 17, 1953 H. P. FRY, JR

THREAD-ADVANCING REEL 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Sept. 20, 1950 INVENTOR.

HORACE R FRXJR.

ATTRNEX IN1/EN TOR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HORACE F Ffm@ H. P. FRY, JR

THREAD-ADVANCING REEL Feb. 17, 1953 Filed Sept. 20, 1950 32 e E. /Jw

Patented Feb. 17, 1953 unirse-D STATES PArENr-J QFFICE 2,628,409NTHR@MIR-e112' VAlNTCilfilsGr REEL Horace .1. Fry,..r., Swarthmore, Pa.,assignorto American Viscose Corporatien,Vv Del." a @recitation 0fDelaware,

Wilminstee g Application September 2i), 1955),Serial No. 185,76 1 is`oiaifms- (ci. esl-um This invention relates to thread-advancing reels iand is particularly concerned" with an improvenient Vin 'the"construction thereof `for the purpose of reducingthe amount of,material re'- i quiredfor either" a short reelfor 'a long, high storagecapacity type of reel adapted' to carry a. yarn', thread, or other typeof strand throughv a generally helical .path ior the purpose of supportingthe strand ina compact but readilyavailable kforiniin Whichit.may be subjected to various treatments, such as by means of liquids,gases or 1 iiuidsin general.

It isgtheprimary object of Vthe present invention to provide` animproved and simplied con? structionof thread-advancing reel which ismade aszl'ig'htin Weight as possible and/of 'as'few'parts as'V possibleconsistent with eicient andreliable' operation. By the presentconstruction, the re' duction in weight and in number of lparts resultsing asavingin'operating expense, 'less laborious d ismantling'in'case ofrepair, andglower initial cost;l Otheif'objectsand advantages will beap4` Dar'entfrom' the drawing and "the 'description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawngwhich is illustrative of the inventi'on,

Figureil is a longitudinal section through the right end of a longthread-advancing reel in ac' cordance with the invention,

Figure la isalongitudinal section through the left end of, the reel of-Figure 1, l Figure 2'isan end View ofthe bar supporting brackets, f

Fglllfe Y3 Figureol,

Figurefi is an axial section through avpreferred embodiment'of va shortform ofreel withY the invention, and

Figure 5 is vaface' view lof a long reeloneend In general, the reelof"thejpresentinvention comprises a central, rigid,` one-'piece shaft:vihich extends the length vofthe reelandlrnay'be supY ported directlyinexternal bearings vat one 'or both ends, preferably atterra` n alsocbinprises two sets ofbars which interdigitare with oneenother, one setbeing concentric with-"respect to the' "shaft, and the'otherfbeirigeccentricfwith respect thereto.

ispasection taken on line Iii-T111 of inlaccordanc'e provided with aclosure Tvvhichiszrigidly, secured v to the-housinggpreferably by'thefsame -means'that isi'provided for rigidly securing one set off tl1ej Y baisfonv thehousing.; The barsv are preferaf 1y`vvv hollowfinconstruction and'ithosexof-oneset are rigidly attached adjacent one endlto the housing,

preferably by individualradially extending braclif-g ets." Theactuatablei barsfare,individuallyat tached .by radially extendingbracketsy tQ inde,`

pendently reciprocable rodswhchextendthrough 'openings in thehousingfcoverfinto"cooperative relationship with the drivingmechanismginthe housing. Individual exible l sealing'mea I 1s,s1 ich,Vas grommetaare providedjbetween the openings inthe `covers and thereciprocable reels,v

In a long reel, lthe construction comprises a wir Oflspaeid housingsorcasines. rigidlysecured: to the central shaft,j'one ateachfendl-offthereel, and disposed inside of thecageformed by the bars.

actuatingjthe other set of barsfasjin,theshort'v reel.4 These housingsare lclip-lilrefiri shape with f their 'open endsgfacing 'the ends ofthe reel-, andf provided 1with' suitable--Ycls1isuresV 'Which, like thef housings, rotate withtherreel; The bars arepreifi erably hollow inconstruction and those of one setare rigidly attached a'djacenttheirends toi the housingsyprefer'ably by individual brackets.y The bars ofytheY actuatable fset ff are individually.;

attached toV independentlyv` 'reciprocablefrodsy which extend throughcpeni'ngsin" the coversto the casings intocooperative'relationship'.with the driving mechanism *thereinf 'A`:protect/ive" 'sleevl'ef is `provided for Y"the shaft ibetween the'housings 'v andl flexible sealingzvrnean'suis provided between the'reciprocable rods andthe 'coversto"thef hu'sw-L ings K. l'therebyvfprotect the -drivi is VprovidedeJ hou s i 11 g 8 and these:housingsi are similar in construction andlpreferablyidentical'sfillailthey maybe interehamgeabie.H 'rnefs'h They serve both to supportone setpfthev bars and to protect the 'driving mechanism" for causessome displacement of material in the portion of the bore of the hubthrough which the knurling is pressed, thereby rigidly securing thehousings on the shaft. A nut Iii at each end of the shaft serves to holdnot only the driving gear 6, but also the bar-actuating mechanisms,within the housings 8, in position on the shaft.

The bearings A and 5 speciiically shown are provided with laterallyprojecting bosses or flanges Il by which they may be fastened, as bybolts or cap screws, to parallel frame members, such as upright,horizontal or otherwise inclined I-beams or channels. The bearing 5 isformed with a casing I2 which is adapted to surround the driving gear 6except for a portion of its periphery extending back of the plane offlanges Il as viewed in Fig. l. A sleeve I3 extends laterally from thecasing i2 and within the sleeve there is provided a cam-supportingmember le which is fixedly secured to the bearing 5 by the set screw l5'and supports the shaft c rotatably within the ball bearings le and Hwhich are preferably widely spaced to provide accurate and reliablealignment of the member i4. The support l Y carries two radiallyprojecting spiders I3 (integral L therewith) and E9 (rigidly held bysnap ring 59') which are provided with peripheral bearing surfaces 2liand 2| respectively which are eccentric with respect to the shaft 3. Theweb i8 also carries xedly secured thereon a cam 22 which has a`laterally facing cam surface 23. A rotatable support comprising twoflanged rings 2s and 25 is rotatably mounted upon the surfaces 20 and2l. A plurality of shouldered tie-rods 26 have 'smaller-diameterprojecting end portions 2 which fit within bores 23 in the rings 2d and25 and hold them together in rigidly spaced relationship. Portions 21may be press-fitted into bores 28 or the portion 21 at opposite ends ofeach tierod 25 may be oppositely threaded and thereby screwed into bores23. Each of the rods 25 has a smaller-diameter portion 29 extending intocorresponding recesses 3G within the housing 8, which may be lined withbushings 3l to provide a better bearing surface for the pins 29. Aplurality of rods 32 are reciprocably mounted within other bores 33 inthe rings 24 and 25. On each of rods 32 there is mounted a cam-followerroller 3d by means cfa link 35 (see Fig. 3) having collars at each end,one of Which designated 3d' surrounds rod 32 and is xed thereon, as by aset screw 3S, and the other of which designated 35 surrounds an adjacenttie-rod 26. An additional collar Si may be positioned upon each rod 32to back up the collar 34 to give it additional support. The outer endsof the rods 32 project through openings 38 in the cover 39 for thehousing 8 and through openings V4) in the individual flexible sealingmembers or grommets 4i, each of which is secured in Ya suitable recessi2 adjacent openings 38 by means of a lock ring d3. An enlarged bead isprovided in the flexible sealing member around the opening All and thisbead is held tightly between a shoulder d on the rod 32 and theindividual bracket d5 which is held upon the outer end of rod 32 bymeans of the nut #S6 and suitable locking means, such as a lock washer51. The individual bracket 45 extends radially outwardlyfrom the rod 32and has an axially projecting pin d8 which fits within a suitable recessin a bar 49 of the actuatable set. Each rod 32 is thus individuallyconnected rigidly to one of the actuatable set of bars 49. A lug 5Ssecured to the bracket d5 serves to orient the ba-r PTODSrly withrespect to the reel axis and to prevent any irnproper disposition of thebar when replacement is made.

The concentric or non-actuatable set of bars is secured to the housings8 by suitable means at each end of the bar which, as shown, comprisesthe radially extending bracket 5I having pins 52 and registering lugs 53adapted to extend into suitable recesses in the end of the bars 54. Acap screw 55 extends through a suitable bore 556 in the bracket 5|,through a bore in the cover 39, and threadedly engages the bore 56extending axially in the outer circumference of the housings The seatfor the head 51 of the cap screw is preferably recessed as shown so thata suitable calking material may be used, if desired, to fill in aroundthe cap screw to protect it from corrosion. A similar recess may beprovided for the nuts 46 in the brackets 45.

The supports for the two sets of bars at the other end of the reel areidentical in construction. However, a compressed helical spring 59 isdisposed on each of the reciprocable rods 32 between the fixed collar 3d(which, however, does not carry a follower roller 34) and the ring 2&3so as to urge the cam follower rollers 34 at the other end of the reelagainst the cam surface 23. In other words, the cam and cam followerrollers within the housing 8 at the right end of the reel are omitted atthe left end of the reel and replaced with spring means for urging thebars in such a direction that the cam followers Sii are at all timespressed against thecam. At both ends of the reel, rods 32 arereciproca-ble within the' rings 2e and 25, the reciprocating actiondepending upon tlie cam surface 23 and the springs 59. l Y

The fixed bearing housing e at the left end of the reel, as viewed inFig. la, is provided with a plurality of bosses 60 into which pins 6iare screwed at an inclination such that the effective circumference ofany windings about the pins is larger adjacent the reel proper and thecircumference decreases in the direction away from the ends of the reelbars. These inclined rods 6l are provided at the discharge end of thereel so that any convolutions of yarn which are discharged from the reelbars over their ends fall upon the pins Eil and tend to move away fromthe reel until an operator can conveniently remove them.

A corrosion-resistant shell or sleeve d2, such as of Saran or stainlesssteel, surrounds the central portion of the shaft 3 and extends intorecesses S3 within the housings 3. A flexible sealn ing ring Si ofcorrosion-resistant material, preferably elastic, such as rubber or asynthetic rubber, is disposed between the sleeve 552 and an annulargroove B5 in the housings 3 and serves to prevent the entry of acorrosive atmosphere or liquid into the working parts of the reel. Thehousings 3 may be provided with a corrosione resistant protectivecoating $5. The covers 32 and the brackets l5 and 5I may be of acorrosion-resistant material and a flexible sealing ring S1 is providedbetween an outwardly projecting flange 68 on the cover andan overlappingor overhanging inwardly projecting flange es on the hub of the bearinghousing While the reel bars may be made of any suit= able material,preferably corrosion-resistant and may be solid or hollow, it ispreferred that a hcllow type Yof bar be used 'in order to save weightwhile at the same time'maintaining Vthe strength necessary for carryingthe large number of convolutionsf-v or, Vthread er1-yarn; a;.1o.1.1,a:=reeleisgfin; tended-ftdsupport.- The: reelbarszfshoyvn m comprisefahollow glassgbar iifhavingI* longrtud1,-` nally of its edges a pair ofridges 'H to reduCQ=-- the. contact offther thread against the outerperiphery for face 0f gtheebars.l Lili-1 internal-,sup-kV portingychannelfshaped shell.12 is disposed within the hollow. -barand,v to.this` internat shell fr attingS is Iwelded ateachenda This-tting-Nlislcoredto receiver the lpins 8f or 52 .ex-tending; romthehrackets 135.orV 5l.YV Flexible.- sealing.vv gaskets v|'5:are provided at each; endof Ythe-bai, between it -andthe1-face of the brackets ato ;provideresilient.Y cushion against which.:A the brackets` may Aloe tightened..

n; operatiomy the geardrive-n-iroingany f suitable. .geartrainnotshovvn.`v This gearrotatesl v shaft 3 .which rotates thevhousings@.andpins 29, cause rotation vof `.the rings .24 .andi/25within-each of the housings.. Rotation..of.thelriousingssofVcourse,causes rotationof.,the `conceni'fric `sety of harstii .which areattacheddirectly to. them yand A rotation orings` 24 and 25' causetherotation of ,theeccentric setof bars 49. During rotation,

each bar of the eccentricset alternatelyprotrudes and-recedeswithintheconcentric set otbarsand the VVcarnj causes recprocationV of;` the.actuatable bars individually in succession so that thebars advance..thethread convolutions axially ofthe reel toward .the discharge ,endthereof.whentheactuatahle loarsv protrudefrom the. concentric set vandthe actuatablevhars arereturned axially in their` recessed positionsin readiness v4for the next advance. During. initial V lacing*operations .o a

machine .comprising E, one.or more such reels. lit

occasionally happens thatsome otjthe convolutions are pushed oit, the.dschiargeendoi the reel.

When rthis occurs,V they yarnccnvolutions fall around the pins 6| fromwhich they may bere.-

inoved lat the conveniencekof the operator.

The reel construction ofjthepresentinvention is extremely simple` andhas reduced weigh-t as, compared to other longl reelsvdesigned for com."parable thread tensions. Sealing elements lare small in size and therebythe initial cost oi? the reel is greatly reduced because vof thecomparatively high cost of such items, particularly one of large size.The cost of maintenance ot the Y present reel is low.` Because .of theindividual mounting of the bars, each bar canberemoved,50i

withoutdisturbinganyof the others and ,without disinountingthe entirereel incase ofgtheineces.- sityo replacing a ,Worn or damaged bar.

The short reel shown vin Figurev Ll'isof similar construction andcorrespondingparts are desiai nated by the same numeral as ,intheembodiment of Figs. l to 3 loutwithA a postscripta.. Theouthoard bearingvlktuis simplied, and, itdesired, may be omitted in which event the endof shaft mayxbe calkedwithin the hub of housing 3a.

The cam 22a is mounted slightly diierently than in Figs., Ltoe,,beingprovided itself with the bearing surface 20a. This modification ofcam construction may be used in the longreel cf Figs. 1 to 3 and the camconstruction of Figs. 65

ring orcollar'fi ttingin a grooifel inthegrod 7av 520.. The bars 49a andE-la are supported only at one oi' their ends and, if hollow (as shown),are provided with plugs or closures 'it at their other ends.

a. rotatablesupport comprising a pair` ojf axially The bar-actuatingmechanism of the reels of contairrelu 8iis8.-.anci82. serrOgprgvidainiereommu. tionbetween-thetvarious cham rs. ineach-houq ing 8and the bearingsI-,iifandgl., Thegendgoibore 82-is pluggCdat-SZCIngFfigA, the addi tional4 en -,supply -loore ,85 ycang lie-connectedtog a suitable-oil feeding device-to direct ccvantinuoush'I or atintermittent intervals additional-oil,tooil` grooveYA 84 -fromwhichitpasses througliberes E3. 820- and la into the main chambergofAthehous.-

ing.. Oil .then flows into bore .19a andldintothe' annulargspace withinsupporti4afro1nwhich it. reaches bearingsl 6a..,ai1d. Al la.

It-.iS,. to.be vunderstnod thatchangesand Varia: tions. may. benia-de Iwithout v.departirig rorn,-the spirit-...and scope of the invention asdeinedbmthe appended-claims I`,c1am: l. A,threadfadvancing. :reel.comprising al shaft,

means .for grotating,the shaft, .alienating foi/1 ,drive ing.. mechanism,secured rigidly tothe. shaft, two-v sets` l.of interdigitatiriglybaits, individual.. bcket members ,fon fixedly,,securingone,set,oil,bars vat, their ends to the housing, arotatahlesupportlnthek housing rotatably-.mounted Onllaxisfeccentric to, that ,of the,shait,... reciprocaJolev rods mounted .inthesupport .generallyrare-11.81-50 .the

shaft; cam. means .i011 reciprocating.theirods, and. indivdualLI bracketmembers for.. securing., the

hars of the otherfset to. -t]oe,-reci*pitocalolerods..L

2; thread-advancing reelconjiprisinga shaft, meansforrotatingztheshafmahousing for driving mechanism..securedreidly .tothe.shafti two,

sets r,of 'interdigitatn `baits,.fmea'ris e for. igdly. .ser cui'llgprleSet oi bars atl theirendstosthe kwhousins., astationarysilpport'in.-.the.hou.sina having .a

o pai n of. ,axially spaced annular bearing Surfaces ec.centric;toA theaxisof the...,shaft;. rotatable support in the housing mounted onthepairvog` eccentric. surfaces, u reciprocalole. rods mountedSlda'blyvn themEstablesuppert` ssnerallyrarab rods,and,means forsecuringthe, barsnof the other set to the reciprocahle rods.

3.y Actuatingminechanismfor theneeoentrie set of 'bars rof 'athread-advancing Areeltwhielrhas both ua concentricandaneccentricsetoirbars com-Y prising a` concentricv drivinggshaft; a;stationary support Vsurrounding thefshaftfand l1avingnapairYofaiallyfspacedjvebs eachhavingan annular bearingsurfaceeccentric totheasisof the shaft,

spacedcrings-mounted on thepain oi" eccentric suriacesraicfam secured tothe stationary` support hetweenthefwebss a; plurality of 'rods axiallyslidably mountedy inalignedjopenings. in the rings, cam followers ontherods between therings, and' means for individuallysecuring thehars totherods;A

4i Actuatingmech-anisxnas denedginplaini 3 compris-ingsimilar-stationary and-rotatable supports Withinhousingssat vloot'rrends ofi the shaft;

similar.' reciprocable A rods vin both rotatable supu ports; theicammeansbeing provided in oneY of theihousings, and spring :means betweenthe rings f ofthe-rotatable support in theotherffhousing.-

5. A thread-advancing reel comprising Ia shaft, means for rotating theshaft, a housing for driving mechanism secured at each end of the shaftfor rotation therewith, two sets of interdigitating bars, means forxedly securing one set of hars at 'their ends to the housings, a supportin each housing rotatably mounted on an axis eccentric to that of theshaft, reciprocable rods mounted in each support generally parallel tothe shaft, cam means for reciprocating the rods, and means for securingthe bars of the other set to the reciprocable rods.

6. A reel as defined in claim 5 in which the means for securing the barsof both sets to the housings and rods respectively are individualbracket members.

7. A thread-advancingreel comprising a shaft, means for rotating theshaft, a housing for driving mechanism secured at each end of the shaftfor rotation therewith, two sets of nterdigitating bars, means for xedlysecuring one set of bars at their ends to the housings, a station-arysupport in each housing each having a pair of axially spaced annularbearing surfaces eccentric to the axis of the shaft, a rotatable supportin each housing mounted on the pair of eccentric surfaces, reciprocablerods mounted slidably in each rotatable support generally parallel tothe shaft, cam means in one of the housings between the bearing surfacesfor reciprocating the rods, and means for securing the bars of the otherset to the reciproca-ble rods.

8. Actuating mechanism for the eccentric set of bars of athread-advancing reel which has both a concentric and an eccentric setof bars comprising a concentric driving shaft, a stationary supportsurrounding one end of the shaft and having a pair of axially spacedwebs each having an annular bearing surface eccentric to the axis of theshaft, Va rotatable support comprising a pair of axially spaced ringsmounted on the pair of eccentric surfaces, a cam secured to thestationary support between the webs, a plurality 0f rods axiallyslidably mounted in aligned openings -in the rings, cam followers on therods between the rings, and means for individually securing Vthe bars tothe rods.

9. A thread-advancing reel as defined in claim 5 in which the housingscomprise ycup-shaped members disposed with their open ends facingoutwardly at the ends of the reel and covers for their open ends, saidcovers being provided with small spaced openings for permittingprotrusion of the reciprocable rods therethrough, and individualflexible sealing means between each rod and the corresponding opening.

l0. A thread-advancing reel as defined in claim 5 comprising acorrosion-resistant protective sleeve closely surrounding the shaft andextending between the housings, and a corrosion-resistant seal betweenthe shaft and each housing.

11. A thread-advancing reel as defined in claim 5 in which the means forsecuring the bars of both sets to the housings and rods are disposedat-theV ends of the bars and the housings are entirely surrounded by thebars.

12. A thread-advancing reel as defined in claim 5 in which the bars areof hollow construction.

13. A protective system for the driving mechanism of thread-advancingreels which have a centralV driving shaft and both a concentric and aneccentric set of bars adapted to carry a strand in a helical pathV overthe reel periphery comprising a pair of housings adjacent the ends ofthe shaft, a protective sleeve closely surrounding the shaft between thehousings, and a seal at each juncture between the shaft and thehousings.

14. Actuating mechanism for the eccentric set of bars of athread-advancing reel which has both a concentric and an eccentric setof bars comprising a concentric driving shaft, a st'ationary supportsurrounding the shaft and having a pair of axially spaced webs eachhaving an annular bearing surface eccentric to the axis of the shaft, arotatable support comprising a pair of axially spaced rings mounted onthe pair of eccentric surfaces, a cam secured to the stationary supportbetween the webs, a plurali-ty of rods axially slidably mounted inaligned openings in the rings, cam followers on the rods between therings, spring means on the rods for urging the followers against thecam, and means for individually securing the bars to the rods.

l5. A thread-advancing reel comprising a shaft, means for rotating theshaft, a housing for driving mechanism secured rigidly to the shaft, twosets of interdigitating bars, means for fixedly securing one set of barsat their ends to the housing, a rotatable support in the housingrotatably mounted on an axis eccentric to that of the shaft,reciprocable rods mounted in the support generally parallel to theshaft, cam means for reciprocating the rods, and means for securing thebars of the other set to the reciprocable rods, said housing comprisinga cup-shaped member disposed with its open end facing outwardly at theend of the reel Yand a cover for the open end, said cover being providedwith small spaced openings for permitting protrusion of the reciprocablerods therethrough, and individual flexible sealing means between eachrod and the corresponding opening.

16. A thread-advancing reel comprising a shaft, means for rotating theshaft, a housing for driving mechanism secured at each end of the shaftfor rotation therewith, two sets of interdigitating bars, means forfixredly securing one set of bars at their ends to the housings, asupport in each housing rotatably mounted on an axis eccentric to thatof the shaft, reciprocable rods mounted in each support generallyparallel to the shaft, cam means for reciprocating the rods, means forsecuring the bars of the other set to the reciprocable rods, an endbearing for the reel shaft, and a plurality of inclined pins spacedcircumferentially around said end bearing and diverging from the endbearing toward said housing, thereby providing a thread-receivingoircumference of large diameter within the bars at the end of the reeland a circumference of small diameter beyond the ends of the bars.

HORACE P. FRY, JR.

HJEFEREN CE? S CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES Y PATENTS Number

